“Sloane.”


    I turn to look at him. He looks exactly the same but somehowpletely different.[]


    Seeing him now, I feel nothing–no butterflies, no spark. He just looks… small.]


    He gives me this soft look: “Are you happy? Is Dn treating you right?”


    “What do you want, Ethan?“]


    He fidgets with his hands: “Look, I heard Sterling Corp’s got that massive year–end contract up for bid. Maybe you could… give Matthews Corp a real shot at it?”


    I don’t let him finish.[]


    “Business–wise, it’s open biddingpete like everyone else.]]


    Personal–wise, our breakup was a shitshow and we’re not exactly at the ‘doing favors‘ stage.]]


    So no dice, Ethan. Matthews Corp can sink or swim on its own merit.“<b>[</b><b>] </b>


    After that, I turn to get in my car. But he blocks me.[]


    “You only bailed on our wedding because you were jealous of Aria, didn’t you? Married Dn just to get back at me?”


    “What if I swore I’d never speak to Aria again? Cut her outpletely? Would that change anything between us?”


    The second he stops talking, someone grabs him by the cor from behind and yeets him across the sidewalk.[]


    It’s Dn, looking absolutely done with this shit:[]


    “Don’t make me go full K–drama viin mode and hostile takeover your broke–asspany into oblivion.“]


    1 grab Dn’s arm, dragging him toward the car:]


    “Baby, why would you buy that dumpster fire? You got money to burn? They’re already bankrupt–you’d literally be paying to haul away garbage.”


    Dn’s still heated: “I’m not letting this stalker creep on my wife every damn day.[]


    Next time I see his pathetic face, it’s on sight!”


    And Matthews Corp really is circling the drain–not because of any buyout, but because Ethan fell for Aria’s investment scam.[]


    She hooked hum up with her “business partners who straight up finessed every penny.[]


    The investment drained Matthews Corp dry, cut off their cash flow, and now the whole empire’s copsing like a house of cards.


    The moment shit hit the fan, Aria ghosted faster than you can say “fraud.“]]


    She’s already moved on to some other rich boy in the city, ying up her innocent little flower act. []


    Poor sucker’s totally whipped and they’re already nning an engagement party.[]


    Since Sterling Corp does business with the Carter family, Dn and I hit up the engagement party. []


    But plot twist–Ethan crashes the whole thing, storming up to Aria’s fiancé: []


    “Mr. Carter, you think your innocent little princess is pure as snow? Think again! Consider this my engagement gift to you both!”


    He whips out his phone and connects it to the venue’s projector.[]


    Suddenly the giant screen’s disying Aria’s greatest hits from abroad–making out with random guys, stumbling drunk through London streets, chain–smoking, the whole slutty abroad experience in 4K glory.


    The whole crowd gasps.]]


    Aria’s shrieking: “Those are fake! Photoshopped! That’s not me! Baby, you know I’m not like that!“[]


    She’s clinging to her fiancé, ugly crying.[]


    Ethan’s not done: “Oh, and that baby she’s carrying? It’s mine, not yours![]


    Congrats on getting yed, my guy. You’re the only one who bought her virgin act!“[]


    Carter shoves Aria away and backhands her hard:[]


    “You lying bitch! Get the hell out and don’t let me see your face in this city again!“[]


    Aria hits the ground crying: “No! The baby it’s yours! I swear it’s yours!”


    But secondster she’s clutching her stomach.[]


    “Help me! Someone help! My stomach!“[]


    Someone screams: “There’s blood! The bride’s miscarrying!<b>“</b>[]


    Total chaos erupts.


    Ethan just stands there ice–cold:]


    “You destroyed my wedding, mypany, my whole life. You think you get a happy ending? Not happening! I’ll make your life hell until <b>the </b>day you diel“]


    Arta lost <b>the </b>baby.


    Even rushing her to the hospital couldn’t save it. Doctor just shook his head: “Three months along. Nothing we could do.”


    I heard all thus while Dn and <b>I </b><b>were </b>on our honeymoon, too busy being disgustingly happy to care.[]


    Chapter <b>8 </b>


    A friend dropped the tea in our group chat:[]


    [Y’all hear Aria stabbed Ethan? Hit his femoral artery–dude almost bled out.]]]


    [He survived but now he’s got a permanent limp.]]


    [The Matthews family pressed charges. She’s doing time now.]]


    Dn and I don’t even respond.[]


    Now? We’re too wrapped up in our own happiness to give a damn about other people’s drama.[]


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